Is Michael Vick in talks to be PETA's spokesman? The group says no

Are they or aren't they?  First Advertising Age reported earlier today that disgraced NFL star Michael Vick was in talks to be a spokesman for PETA when he gets out of prison:

According to three people with knowledge of the matter, the proposed endorsement is part of a comprehensive PR scheme aimed at rehabilitating the quarterback's image and gaining him readmission to the league that banned him from playing.

"I'm familiar with [the plan]," said Dan Shannon, director of youth outreach and campaigns for PETA. "We have been in discussions with Michael Vick, with his management team, about the possibility of him putting out a public-service announcement with PETA when he's out of jail. We want him to discourage people from taking part in dog-fighting. I can do it until I'm blue in the face and it might not convince anybody. Michael Vick sure can. He can say, 'Look, I did it, I was wrong, and it ruined my career.' "

But in short order, PETA had released a statement denying the claim.  What gives?

"Now that he's about to get out of jail, it looks like Michael Vick is trying to revamp his image, according to Advertising Age," writes PETA blogger Shawna Flavell.  "But it won't be with any help from us."

The confusion apparently stems from talks PETA had with Vick's representatives last year, exploring the possibility of his participating in a series of public service announcements denouncing his former hobby, dogfighting. 

That offer was subsequently withdrawn in December, after the group received a U.S. Department of Agriculture report offering details of the dogfighting operation that landed Vick a nearly two-year jail sentence. Shannon said in a statement that any deal was off when the group discovered, as a result of the report, that Vick had "enjoyed placing family pets in the ring with fighting pit bulls and that he laughed as dogs ripped each other apart." 

PETA later called on the former quarterback to undergo a brain scan to look for any "evidence of clinical psychopathy or anti-social personality disorder."  (As one might imagine, Vick hasn't expressed any interest in such a test.)

Advertising Age has since published a follow-up story, in which Shannon responds to the confusion.  "In retrospect, I feel like I didn't convey the proper tense of all of this," he says.  "It was back in December of last year when we called on him to submit for this psychological evaluation, when we put out the ultimatum, or we're not interested in moving forward. It didn't happen, and we took that to mean that the talks were kind of dead in the water...What we don't believe at this point is that there is a contrite, remorseful Michael Vick. At this point, it looks like there's zero chance."

Whew!  What a difference a news cycle makes!

--Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Gerald Herbert / Associated Press

Comments

[Lynn]

Shouldn't anyone involved with PETA be the ones undergoing psyche evaluations? These nuts want to call fish "sea kittens" and the president thinks a human child is the equivalent of a dog. PETA kills more cats and dogs than China, but they have the audacity to holler about animal cruelty? whatever.

[Sara]

I couldn't and wouldn't believe Vick as a spokesman for anything. I certainly would never ever let him near any animals. At this point I do not think he should even be released from prison.

[paula]

Peta is in no position to talk with loser Vick. The supposed animal lovers at peta wanted ALL his dogs destroyed. All fighting dogs should be put down is petas stance. They also support BSL laws. Disgusting stance for a group who is supposed to love and fight for ALL animals. Oh, a pit bull bit Ingrid when she was young. Thats a good reason. PETA has forever lost my support.

[PARKER]

PETA IS A JOKE DOG FIGHTING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS. VICK IS NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO FIGHT A DOG IF HE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY YOU WON'T HEAR ABOUT THIS STORY. PEOPLE OF AMERCIA WE HAVE MORE IMPORTATE THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. VICK HAS DONE HIS TIME FOR HIS CRIME I SAY LET THE MAN HELP IF HE CAN WITH PETA . AND LET WHAT HAPPEN IN THE PAST STAY IN THE PAST ITS NOT LIKE HE KILLED A HUMAN GIVE HIM HIS JOB BACK IN THE NFL AND LETS WORRY MORE ABOUT THE USA THEN SOMETHING THIS SMALL.

[trivial]

PARKER Typing in caps doesn't help solidify your point any, in fact it probably hurts it more than anything.

Saying that it’s been around for many years and he is not the first person to do it is a terrible excuse. That argument can be said about any crime, hey murder has been around for many years, he’s not the first person to do it; so it must not be that big of a deal.

The man committed some real sadistic crimes, which portray mental dysfunctions not likely to be repair by a slap on the wrist two year sentence. But whatever, he has been convicted and done his time; he should be allowed to move on with his life. That does not mean he should be offered the tremendous opportunity of playing in the NFL he initially ruined.